LIVE REVIEW: A Heavenly 25th Celebration at The Garage

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Fred Perry Subculture teamed up with Heavenly Recordings at The Garage, London, to celebrate 25 years of the iconic, highly influential British indie-music label, first founded by Jeff Barrett back in 1990.

Heavenly’s hotly tipped new signings showcase included new music from Brighton based ‘surf-doom’ rockers The Wytches (mentored by The Horrors’ Spider Webb) – a highly melodic, screechy three piece band, possessing heavy grunge riffs in their armoury, who set off sporadic waves of excitable slam dancing amongst the free-spirited (mostly teenage fans kitted out in Breton stripes and dishevelled hair). The cheery prototype Ordinary Boys-esque Hooton Tennis Club were full of energetic riffs, as well as the so-called ‘weird punk’ outfit Nots, who seem to be more like a tribute to The Slits in a post Topshop angst packaged new world – minus the catchy harmonies. Britain kicked off the night, to a slightly yawnsome start with their forgettably dull low-fi drones.

Britain

The finale ended with a vintage guitar-punk driven DJ set by Scottish hellraiser and North London favourite Bobby Gillespie and Primal Scream bandmate Andrew Innes, both hounded by the new generation of indie fans requesting selfies, while unashamedly informing them they were still in nappies when Screamadelica was first released. Saint Etienne’s Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley, and Heavenly’s in-house DJs ending proceedings.

The gig follows the release of the Heavenly 25 compilation and its accompanying Photo exhibition at Rough Trade East comprising Brian David Steven’s portraits of the 54 artists currently signed to the label in their anniversary year.